The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - along with team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover post the close together exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that fails to account for the team of the well below standard display in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the decider of this cycle too.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, the team look to be easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included just the players - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
