The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover after the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep at home suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to number five. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Now, India look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them earlier.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
