The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India 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 momentum built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - along with head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover after the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and took no further part in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard showing in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of reaching the decider of this cycle also.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Currently, the team look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
