The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover following the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep at home experienced by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the decider of this edition as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, India have dropped to number five. Although nine further games are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, the team appear to be vulnerable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
While there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
