India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover post the almost concurrent retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the decider of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine further games are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, India seem easy pickings on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
