The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover after the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of reaching the final of this cycle too.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to fifth place. Although nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, India appear to be beatable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified various flaws after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted just the players - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
