India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover post the almost concurrent retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the final of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine further games are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, the team look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to help their style failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified several failings after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
