The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover post the near-simultaneous exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Although nine further games are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, the team appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
