The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover after the close together departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash at home endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's hopes of reaching the final of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have dropped to number five. Though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, India seem easy pickings at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is failing at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them before.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
