India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of making the decider of this edition also.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, India seem vulnerable at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them before.
While there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted just the players - selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
