The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover post the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill got injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of reaching the final of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to number five. Although nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the failures 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 badly exposed. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Currently, India seem vulnerable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to do well abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them before.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review targeted just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
