India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of reaching the final of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Now, India look to be easy pickings at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
