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 handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - along with team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of qualifying for the final of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, the team look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
