The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover after the close together departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill was injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this season also.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to number five. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis also included the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
