The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - including head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition after the almost concurrent departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, till the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of making the showpiece of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.
Today, India appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
While there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
