The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover post the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill was injured very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of making the final of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, India look to be beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted just the players - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
