The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. But that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters 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 badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, India look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
