India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover following the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of making the decider of this edition as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Currently, India appear to be beatable on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Although there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
