The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's 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 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover post the close together retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of making the final of this cycle as well.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Now, India look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them before.
Although there is validity in these views, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
