India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition after the almost concurrent retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard display in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash on home soil endured by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of making the decider of this season too.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, India appear to be easy pickings at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included just the players - selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
