India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition post the almost concurrent retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
It was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the decider of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have dropped to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, the team look to be vulnerable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them in the past.
While there is validity in these views, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies post India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
