The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover after the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing display in each match against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this season also.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, India seem easy pickings at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
