The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover post the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of reaching the showpiece of this cycle as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to number five. Although nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, the team look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified several failings post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
