The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition post the almost concurrent departures of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard performance in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash on home soil suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of making the decider of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have fallen to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, the team seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in these views, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted just the players - selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
