The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover post the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that fails to account for the side of the well below standard display in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's chances of making the final of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, India have fallen to number five. Even though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Today, India appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
