India's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover post the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of making the showpiece of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, the team seem easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to do well overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
While there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
