India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition following the close together exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this cycle as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Currently, the team seem easy pickings on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
While there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
