India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - as well as team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover after the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing display in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash at home experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of making the showpiece of this edition too.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, India seem easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them earlier.
While there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified several failings following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
