India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover following the almost concurrent retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing display in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the decider of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team seem easy pickings at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
While there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
