The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - along with head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover post the close together departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this season also.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to number five. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, the team look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
While there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
