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 gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition post the almost concurrent exits of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing performance in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's hopes of making the final of this edition also.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Today, the team look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
