India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover post the close together departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this edition also.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have dropped to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Now, the team look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
