India's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas 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, against all odds. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover after the almost concurrent departures of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill was injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of making the decider of this season as well.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Currently, India appear to be easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis also included just the players - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
