The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's chances of making the final of this cycle also.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, India have fallen to number five. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team seem beatable at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them before.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
