The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover post the near-simultaneous departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, the team appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified several failings after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted just the players - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
