The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover post the almost concurrent exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the final of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws post India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted just the players - selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
