The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition post the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the well below standard performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this edition as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Now, India seem beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them before.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified several failings following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
