India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of making the showpiece of this edition too.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Today, the team look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them before.
While there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
