The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition after the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill was injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, India appear to be beatable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare just the players - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
