The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - along with head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep at home experienced by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of reaching the decider of this season too.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Currently, India appear to be beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
