The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the decider of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to fifth place. Though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, why the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, the team seem easy pickings on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Although there is validity in these views, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
