India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - as well as head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard display in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost India a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of making the decider of this edition also.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have been relegated to number five. Although nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, India seem beatable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to help their style failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Although there is validity in these views, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
