The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition after the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of qualifying for the final of this season also.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Now, the team seem beatable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
