The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition following the almost concurrent retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing display in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of qualifying for the final of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
While there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain why India's performances at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
