The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing display in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of making the showpiece of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, India look to be vulnerable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
