The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition after the close together exits of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of qualifying for the final of this edition also.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, India appear to be vulnerable at home.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
While there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
