India's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover after the close together retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to fifth place. Although nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Today, India look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
