The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. 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 decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition post the close together retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, India seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to help their style failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
