The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win 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 established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the near-simultaneous exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of making the final of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, India look to be beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to help their style failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them before.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review also included the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
