The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition after the close together exits of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep on home soil experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of reaching the decider of this edition as well.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to fifth place. Though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Today, the team seem beatable at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to help their style failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
