India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition after the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash at home endured by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this season as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team appear to be vulnerable at home.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
