The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - as well as head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill got injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep on home soil experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of reaching the decider of this cycle too.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, India appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
