India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover following the almost concurrent departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing display in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the final of this season as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, India seem vulnerable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
While there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
