The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - including head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition after the almost concurrent retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, till the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this season also.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, the team look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
