India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover after the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash at home experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of making the decider of this edition also.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to number five. Although nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Today, the team look to be beatable on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
