The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - including head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill was injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep at home endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of reaching the final of this edition too.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to number five. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, India seem easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to do well overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Although there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified several failings after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
