India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition after the almost concurrent exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the side of the well below standard showing in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash on home soil endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this season as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, India look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to help their style failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
