India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, till the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of making the decider of this edition also.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have fallen to number five. Though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Now, India look to be easy pickings at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted just the players - selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
