The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover post the close together retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing display in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash on home soil endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this cycle as well.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Now, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted just the players - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
