The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover following the close together departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill was injured very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the decider of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Now, India appear to be beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with before.
Although there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
