India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover after the near-simultaneous departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition also.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine further games are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Today, the team seem easy pickings at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
Some point out 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.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified various flaws following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
