The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of making the final of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to number five. Though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. However 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 significantly highlighted. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, India appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
