The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard display in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle also.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, India seem beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them before.
While there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
