India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's prospects of making the showpiece of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to number five. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws post India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, driven by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
