The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - including head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition after the almost concurrent retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of making the final of this season too.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, the team seem beatable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them before.
While there is validity in these views, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
