The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition post the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of making the decider of this cycle as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
While there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws post India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted just the players - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
