India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover after the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of reaching the final of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Currently, the team seem easy pickings on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
