The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover following the close together retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of making the final of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, 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 - even against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, India look to be vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review also included not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
