The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - along with head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover following the almost concurrent retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the well below standard performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep at home endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of making the decider of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, India seem vulnerable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
