The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Although nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, India appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
While there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
