The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - along with head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover following the close together exits of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of qualifying for the decider of this edition as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, India appear to be vulnerable at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
