The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that fails to account for the side of the well below standard performance in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the final of this season as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to number five. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Currently, India look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
