The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of making the final of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, why India have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
While there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
