The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep on home soil experienced by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of making the decider of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Today, India appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
