The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover post the near-simultaneous retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the opening 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 both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of reaching the decider of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have dropped to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, India look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
Although there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
