The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - along with team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover after the close together departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of reaching the decider of this season as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Now, the team seem beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
