India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover following the close together retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep at home endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's hopes of making the showpiece of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, India seem easy pickings at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv 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.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
