India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover following the near-simultaneous departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard performance in each match against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's chances of making the decider of this cycle too.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, India seem beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
While there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure 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, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
