The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition after the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep on home soil experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of qualifying for the decider of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Now, India seem beatable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified several failings post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press