The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Today, India appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players 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 altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
