The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover after the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition too.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Currently, India seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
