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 gave India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's chances of reaching the decider of this season too.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, the team look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
While there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis didn't spare just the players - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
