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, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover post the close together exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill was injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. However, that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of making the final of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to number five. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, India seem beatable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them in the past.
While there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
