The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover post the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard performance in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of making the final of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
