The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition following the close together retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash on home soil endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's chances of qualifying for the decider of this cycle as well.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Now, the team look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
