The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, before the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of making the final of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to number five. Though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Now, India look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
While there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
