The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover following the almost concurrent retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard performance in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of making the decider of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, the team look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them in the past.
While there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
