India's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition post the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard display in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the decider of this edition also.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, India seem beatable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified several failings after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
