India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover after the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard showing in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's chances of qualifying for the decider of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to number five. Though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team look to be beatable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them before.
While there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
