The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - including head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover post the close together exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing display in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of reaching the final of this season too.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.
Today, the team appear to be beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted just the players - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
