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 a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just one year 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 - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover following the close together departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of reaching the decider of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Today, India look to be beatable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, 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.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
