The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard display in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's chances of making the showpiece of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to number five. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, the team look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with before.
Although there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain why India's performances at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
