India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover post the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash on home soil endured by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of reaching the final of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to number five. Though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Today, the team seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
