The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover after the close together retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of making the showpiece of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, the side have been relegated to number five. Although nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, India appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them in the past.
Although there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
