The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover post the close together retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. But that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing showing in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this season too.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified several failings after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
