The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash on home soil experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's chances of making the showpiece of this season too.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Today, India seem beatable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
