India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - as well as head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par display in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this season also.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Now, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to help their style failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them before.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included just the players - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
