The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - along with head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover after the near-simultaneous exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill got injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard display in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of making the final of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine further games are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be vulnerable at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
