The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition post the almost concurrent exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, till the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. But that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par display in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of making the final of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Now, India appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them in the past.
While there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included just the players - selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
