The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - as well as head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover after the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the well below standard performance in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of making the showpiece of this cycle also.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to number five. Though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, the team look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included just the players - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
