India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition following the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill was injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of making the showpiece of this cycle as well.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Although there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
