India's surprising 0-2 loss 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 Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation'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 prospects of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover after the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing display in each match against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep at home suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the decider of this edition also.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Today, the team appear to be beatable at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Members like Rishabh 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 aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
