India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - including team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover post the near-simultaneous retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard display in each match against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of making the decider of this edition as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, India seem easy pickings on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws post India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review also included just the players - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
