The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - including head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover after the near-simultaneous departures of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard performance in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's chances of reaching the decider of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Today, the team look to be easy pickings at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included just the players - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
