India's surprising 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover following the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that fails to account for the team of the well below standard showing in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition too.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, the team seem easy pickings at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
