India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of reaching the decider of this season also.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Today, India appear to be beatable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
