The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover post the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard performance in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have fallen to number five. Although nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Now, India seem easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
