India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover following the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash at home endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this season as well.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, the team look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
While there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
