The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition following the close together departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this cycle as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Currently, India appear to be easy pickings at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
While there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
