The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover post the close together departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard performance in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of qualifying for the final of this cycle also.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Now, India look to be beatable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to help their style failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
