India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - along with head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of reaching the final of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, why India have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
