The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover after the almost concurrent exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard performance in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep on home soil experienced by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of reaching the final of this season as well.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have fallen to number five. Though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Now, the team look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
