India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover post the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of making the showpiece of this edition as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
Although there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
