India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover after the near-simultaneous retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of making the final of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, the team look to be easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them in the past.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
