The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous exits of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. But that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this season too.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Though nine further games are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Now, the team seem vulnerable at home.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
