India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of reaching the final of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an aberration.
Today, the team seem beatable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
While there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws post India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
