India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent exits of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph 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 skipper 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 well below standard display in each match against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash at home endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of qualifying for the final of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition 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 home surfaces have been altered from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
Although there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
