The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover post the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's chances of making the final of this season also.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to number five. Though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, India seem easy pickings at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis also included just the players - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
