The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, the team seem beatable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to do well abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
While there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
