The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition following the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of qualifying for the final of this edition too.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to number five. Though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, the team look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to help their style failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
