The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover after the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this edition too.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Today, the team look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to do well abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them in the past.
While there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
