India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover after the almost concurrent departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. But that fails to account for the side of the well below standard display in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of reaching the decider of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Now, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
