The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - as well as head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, before the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of reaching the decider of this cycle too.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Now, India seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, beating 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 modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review targeted just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
