The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the almost concurrent retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. But that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of making the showpiece of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, India appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to help their style failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified several failings post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review also included just the players - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
