India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition post the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard display in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have dropped to number five. Though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them before.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review also included not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
