India's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - including head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, until the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's hopes of reaching the decider of this edition as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have fallen to number five. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, India look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
