India's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover after the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this edition as well.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an aberration.
Now, India seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings post India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered 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 casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The review targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
