The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat 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, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover after the close together retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. However, that fails to account for the side of the well below standard display in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have fallen to number five. Although nine further games are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, India look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have identified various flaws post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
