The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - including head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover following the close together retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the decider of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Though nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against Australia. 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 assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team look to be easy pickings at home.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
