The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover following the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of qualifying for the final of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Currently, India look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
While there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
