The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover after the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep at home endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of making the final of this edition too.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to number five. Although nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, India appear to be vulnerable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
