The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition after the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of making the decider of this edition also.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
While there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted just the players - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
