India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months 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 multiple squad members - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing display in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of reaching the decider of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Now, India look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest 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 succeed abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings post India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
