India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover post the almost concurrent retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill was injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's prospects of making the decider of this edition also.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to number five. Though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, India seem easy pickings at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press