The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard showing in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash at home endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's chances of making the final of this edition also.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have fallen to fifth place. Although nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, the team look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
