The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover post the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of qualifying for the final of this season too.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to fifth place. Although nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Currently, the team look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
