India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - as well as team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover post the close together departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill got injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep at home experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of reaching the final of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Although nine further games are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, the team appear to be beatable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to do well overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
