India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - including head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition after the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of qualifying for the final of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to fifth place. Although nine further games are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Today, the team appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
