India's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition post the close together departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill got injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, India have fallen to fifth place. Though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, India look to be easy pickings at home.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
