India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team 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 shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of making the decider of this season as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to number five. Though nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Now, India appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
