The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par display in each match against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the decider of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, India have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, the team appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The review also included just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
