India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition after the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of making the showpiece of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Currently, India appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Although there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
