The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's chances of reaching the final of this edition as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to number five. Though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, India seem vulnerable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
