India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover post the close together departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of making the decider of this season as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team look to be beatable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
