The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, until the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard showing in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash at home endured by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of making the final of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have dropped to number five. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, India appear to be beatable at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
