India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover post the near-simultaneous retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep at home suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of qualifying for the final of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to number five. Though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Now, India appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
