India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover following the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing display in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's chances of reaching the final of this season too.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
