The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition after the close together departures of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash at home experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of reaching the decider of this cycle too.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, the team look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
Although there is validity in these views, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
