The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover post the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine more Tests 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 strong Australian side. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Currently, the team seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
