India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. But that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of reaching the decider of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, India have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine further games are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, the team seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
Even though there is validity in these views, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws post India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
