The Indian cricket team's unexpected 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 loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover following the almost concurrent exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard display in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep at home experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this season too.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Today, India look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
While there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified various flaws after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
