The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep at home endured by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of reaching the decider of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, the team look to be beatable at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
