The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover after the almost concurrent exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par display in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, India appear to be beatable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
While there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified various flaws after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
