India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition post the almost concurrent exits of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill was injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard display in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the final of this season too.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, India appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with before.
Although there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The review also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
