The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover following the near-simultaneous exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of making the decider of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them before.
While there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
