The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill was injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.
Today, the team look to be easy pickings at home.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because local wickets have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
