The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep on home soil experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, India look to be vulnerable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
