The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of making the decider of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, India look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to help their style failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
