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 handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of making the final of this edition as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
