India's shocking 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover following the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, until the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of making the decider of this season also.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to number five. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, India look to be beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, 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 - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
