The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover post the almost concurrent exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this cycle as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.
Now, India look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
