The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, until the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this season too.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Today, India appear to be beatable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in these views, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
