The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover after the close together retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second series sweep on home soil endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of qualifying for the decider of this edition too.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, the team seem beatable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Although there is validity in these views, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
