The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - along with team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition after the almost concurrent exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of making the showpiece of this season too.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, why the team have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, India look to be beatable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review also included not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
