India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover post the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash at home experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of making the final of this cycle too.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Now, the team seem easy pickings on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
