The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover after the near-simultaneous exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's chances of making the final of this season too.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, the team seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
