India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard showing in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash at home suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of qualifying for the final of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have fallen to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, the team seem beatable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
