India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover following the close together exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill got injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this season also.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, India seem easy pickings on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them before.
While there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered 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.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
