The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's chances of qualifying for the final of this season as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, India seem easy pickings at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings post India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The review targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
