India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover post the close together departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of reaching the decider of this cycle too.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Now, the team look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified various flaws following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
