The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - along with team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover after the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the side of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of reaching the decider of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Now, the team look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies post India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
