The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover post the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the well below standard performance in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the final of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Now, India appear to be easy pickings at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted just the players - selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
