The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover post the close together retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's chances of reaching the decider of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, India look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified several failings after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
