India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover following the near-simultaneous departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of making the showpiece of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
