India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover after the close together departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this season too.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
