The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover post the close together retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of reaching the decider of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, India look to be beatable at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
