The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard display in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash on home soil endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of qualifying for the final of this cycle as well.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine further games are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Now, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to help their style failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to do well abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them before.
While there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified several failings following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
