India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover following the close together departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash at home endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of qualifying for the decider of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Today, India seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them before.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
