The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - along with head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover post the almost concurrent exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash on home soil endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Today, India appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, 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 technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
