India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover post the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. But that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Now, the team seem easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
