The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill was injured very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par display in each match against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second series sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's prospects of making the final of this season as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is failing at home because local wickets have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
While there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted just the players - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
