The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, till the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, India look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to help their style failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
