The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition after the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing showing in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash at home endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified various flaws post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
