India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover after the close together exits of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the team of the well below standard display in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep at home experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of qualifying for the final of this edition as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, India have dropped to number five. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been modified from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press