The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - including head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill got injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard showing in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of making the decider of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, India seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with before.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted just the players - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
