The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of making the final of this season as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, India appear to be beatable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
While there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis also included the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
