India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India 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 gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover after the almost concurrent exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill was injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash at home experienced by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of reaching the decider of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to number five. Though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, India seem vulnerable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted just the players - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
