The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover post the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of reaching the final of this edition also.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to number five. Although nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Today, India look to be beatable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
While there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
