India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover following the near-simultaneous exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard showing in each match against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of reaching the decider of this cycle too.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, India have been relegated to number five. Though nine additional matches 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 powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
