The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition post the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard display in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of making the final of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Currently, India seem easy pickings on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to do well abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
