India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover following the almost concurrent exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, till the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill was injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash at home endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable at home.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
Although there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
