India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - along with team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover after the almost concurrent departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard display in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle too.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Though nine further games are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, the team seem vulnerable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
