The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of several players - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover post the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this cycle as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have dropped to number five. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with before.
Although there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
