The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition following the close together retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Now, India seem easy pickings on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies post India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
