The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition post the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard performance in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of reaching the final of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to number five. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Today, India appear to be beatable at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
