India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover post the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of reaching the final of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, the team appear to be beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
