India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of several players - along with head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover following the close together exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash at home endured by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this edition too.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Currently, the team seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included just the players - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
