The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Today, the team look to be beatable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is failing at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Although there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis didn't spare just the players - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
