The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover following the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of making the decider of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to number five. Although nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Today, India appear to be easy pickings at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to do well overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them earlier.
Although there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
