The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover post the near-simultaneous retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning 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 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 showing in each match against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash at home experienced by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Even though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, the team seem beatable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
