The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover after the near-simultaneous departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, before the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill got injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. But that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of reaching the final of this season as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, why India have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, the team look to be beatable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
