India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover after the close together exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, until the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill was injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition also.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have dropped to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them before.
Although there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
