India's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test 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 South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition following the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash on home soil suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of reaching the decider of this edition also.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, India appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
While there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
