India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover following the close together exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's chances of reaching the showpiece of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to help their style failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The review targeted the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
