The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked 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 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing display in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash on home soil experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this season too.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Today, India appear to be beatable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them before.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
