India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition post the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard performance in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash on home soil suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's chances of making the decider of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have fallen to number five. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to help their style failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
