The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover after the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this edition also.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to number five. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, India appear to be beatable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with before.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
