The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard display in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's prospects of making the final of this edition also.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, India appear to be beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
