India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover after the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this edition also.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, India look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis also included just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press