The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat 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 Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par display in each match against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep at home experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of qualifying for the final of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, India look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and 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 - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
