The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of several players - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition following the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of making the final of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Currently, India seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with before.
Although there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
