India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - as well as team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover post the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard performance in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep on home soil endured by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of making the decider of this edition also.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have fallen to number five. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
