The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard display in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition too.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have dropped to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Now, India appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been altered 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 many overseas players play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
