The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill got injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing display in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition too.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have dropped to number five. Though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, the team seem beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to do well overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws post India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
