India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover post the near-simultaneous exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that fails to account for the side of the well below standard display in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this edition also.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, India appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is validity in these views, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
