The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of making the decider of this cycle also.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.
Now, India appear to be vulnerable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to help their style failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
