The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover after the close together retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard performance in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's chances of reaching the decider of this season too.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, why India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
