India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - along with team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover after the close together departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, India look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
