The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition after the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of making the decider of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them in the past.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
