The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition after the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of making the final of this season also.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Today, the team look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
Although there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified various flaws after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
