The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover after the near-simultaneous departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of reaching the decider of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified various flaws following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
