India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this edition also.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, the team seem easy pickings on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
Although there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
