The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition also.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Currently, the team look to be beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review also included just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
