India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill was injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of making the decider of this edition too.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Now, India appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
