India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill got injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of making the decider of this cycle too.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Now, India look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
