The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition after the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill got injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of reaching the final of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Now, India look to be beatable at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
While there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
