The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover following the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. But that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of reaching the showpiece of this season also.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Now, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them before.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
