The Indian cricket team's shocking 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, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill was injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard display in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of qualifying for the final of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine further games are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why 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 seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, India look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
While there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
