The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash at home endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this edition also.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Now, India seem easy pickings on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
