The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover after the near-simultaneous exits of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing display in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this season too.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have fallen to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, the team look to be vulnerable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them before.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review also included the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
