The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the well below standard performance in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash at home suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of making the showpiece of this edition too.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, the team seem beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them in the past.
While there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
