The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition post the almost concurrent exits of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, till the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of making the decider of this cycle too.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, India seem beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
