The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa 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 India's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - including head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover post the almost concurrent departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep at home experienced by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the decider of this season too.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have fallen to fifth place. Though nine further games are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Currently, India appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review also included not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press