The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover post the close together departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill got injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's chances of reaching the showpiece of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine further games are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, the team look to be beatable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
