India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover after the near-simultaneous departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. However, that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's chances of qualifying for the decider of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to number five. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Today, India appear to be beatable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
