The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition after the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the final of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, the team look to be beatable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is validity in these views, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
