The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent 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 last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover after the close together retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep at home endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of making the showpiece of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.
Today, India seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish 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, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review also included just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
