The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, till the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the side of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of making the final of this edition also.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to number five. Though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, the team look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws post India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review also included not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
