India's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous exits of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and 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 fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader 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 well below standard showing in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of reaching the decider of this season as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Currently, the team look to be easy pickings at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
