India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - as well as team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition after the close together departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of reaching the decider of this cycle also.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to number five. Even though nine further games are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Today, the team look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them in the past.
While there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted just the players - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
