India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of qualifying for 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 further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Currently, the team seem easy pickings at home.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them before.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why India's performances at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted just the players - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
