The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of making the final of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, India look to be vulnerable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
While there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
