India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover following the close together departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why India have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Today, India appear to be beatable at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared 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
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
Even though there is validity in these views, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
