The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of qualifying for the final of this edition also.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Today, the team seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is failing at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
