India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover post the close together retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, till the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader 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 terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this season too.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Today, India look to be easy pickings at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
