The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover post the near-simultaneous exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill was injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to number five. Although nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, India appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included just the players - selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
