The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent exits of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second series sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of making the final of this season also.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, the team appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to help their style failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
