India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover following the almost concurrent exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep at home experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Now, India seem easy pickings at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them before.
Although there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
