The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. 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 decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition after the close together exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill was injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing display in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of making the showpiece of this season too.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have dropped to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, India look to be beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis also included just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
