India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover after the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard display in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of reaching the decider of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Today, the team look to be beatable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to help their style failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
