The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash on home soil suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition too.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to number five. Although nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Now, the team seem beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies post India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
