India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover post the near-simultaneous exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill was injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of making the showpiece of this edition as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, the team look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
