The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover post the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard display in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep on home soil endured by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of qualifying for the final of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have fallen to number five. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, why the team have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, the team look to be beatable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to do well abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
