The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard display in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's chances of making the final of this season also.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
