The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover after the close together retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill got injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of making the showpiece of this edition as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to number five. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an aberration.
Now, India seem beatable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review targeted just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
