India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition following the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that fails to account for the side of the well below standard showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of reaching the final of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to number five. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
