India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the well below standard performance in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, the team seem beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare just the players - selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
