The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - including head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover after the close together retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash at home endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of making the decider of this season also.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Now, the team look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in these views, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
