The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover following the close together retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill got injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of making the final of this cycle as well.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Now, India seem vulnerable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them in the past.
While there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
