The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover post the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have fallen to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Now, the team look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
