The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - along with head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition after the almost concurrent exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's prospects of reaching the final of this cycle also.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, the team look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is failing at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them before.
While there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The review also included the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
