The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
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.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash at home endured by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of reaching the final of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to number five. Though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why the team have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, India appear to be beatable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
