India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover following the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's chances of qualifying for the decider of this season too.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have dropped to number five. Though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.
Now, India look to be vulnerable at home.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted just the players - selectors and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
