India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover post the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par display in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash at home suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of reaching the decider of this season also.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, the side have fallen to fifth place. Though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The review also included not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
