India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover following the close together retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this cycle too.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.
Now, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them earlier.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
