The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover post the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard performance in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of making the decider of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Today, the team look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
