The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - as well as head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash at home endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's chances of making the final of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have fallen to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, India appear to be vulnerable at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
