The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous exits of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to number five. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included just the players - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
