The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous exits of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard performance in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of reaching the decider of this cycle as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Even though nine further games are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, the team look to be beatable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
