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 Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover after the close together exits of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of reaching the decider of this edition too.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Today, the team seem easy pickings at home.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
