India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the side of the well below standard display in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the final of this edition also.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an aberration.
Now, India look to be vulnerable at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
