India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India 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 positive trajectory established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition post the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of reaching the decider of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
