The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover following the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this cycle as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Now, India look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
