The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill got injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of reaching the final of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Now, India look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
