The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition following the almost concurrent exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing showing in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's chances of making the showpiece of this cycle too.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an aberration.
Now, India appear to be vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain why India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified several failings after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
