India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover after the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the series. However, that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of reaching the showpiece of this cycle too.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Today, the team seem beatable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The review also included just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
