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 inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition post the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill got injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of making the showpiece of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to number five. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
While there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis also included just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
