The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition following the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition too.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, why India have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, India seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to help their style failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
