The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover following the close together retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing display in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's chances of reaching the final of this season also.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in these views, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The review targeted just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
