The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this cycle too.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them earlier.
While there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare just the players - selectors and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
