The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - along with head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover following the close together departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing showing in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the decider of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to number five. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, the team look to be vulnerable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The review also included just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
