The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. However, that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing display in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash on home soil endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this season as well.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, the side have been relegated to number five. Though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Now, India appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
Even though there is validity in these views, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified several failings after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
