The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this season as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have dropped to number five. Though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an aberration.
Now, the team look to be beatable at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
