The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - including head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition post the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. But that fails to account for the team of the well below standard display in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of qualifying for the final of this season also.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, India have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
While there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare just the players - selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
