India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition post the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, till the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of making the showpiece of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have fallen to number five. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.
Now, the team look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen 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 modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
