The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - including team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover after the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard display in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of reaching the showpiece of this edition too.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Now, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them before.
While there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis also included the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
