India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished 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. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover after the close together departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing showing in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, India appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them before.
While 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 dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
