India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover following the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard display in each match against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of making the decider of this season as well.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Today, India appear to be beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with before.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
