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 inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover following the close together exits of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and took no further part in the series. However, that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of reaching the final of this edition also.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Today, the team seem vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
