The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition post the almost concurrent exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. But that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing display in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions endured by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 victory 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 reaching the decider of this cycle also.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to number five. Though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Currently, the team look to be easy pickings at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
Even though there is validity in these views, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
