India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover after the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing display in each match against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash on home soil endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's chances of qualifying for the decider of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have dropped to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, the team look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
