The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - along with team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the side of the well below standard performance in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of making the final of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to number five. Although nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Today, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
