The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of reaching the decider of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have fallen to fifth place. Although nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, India appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them before.
While there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis didn't spare just the players - selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
