The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - along with team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of making the decider of this season also.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Currently, India look to be beatable at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Although there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and 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.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
