India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this edition as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Now, the team appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
