India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover after the almost concurrent departures of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill got injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of making the final of this cycle also.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to number five. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.
Now, the team appear to be beatable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
While there is validity in these views, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
