The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - including team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition following the close together retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill was injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the series. However, that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's chances of reaching the showpiece of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine further games are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, the team seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press