India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - including head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition following the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard display in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's chances of making the decider of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be vulnerable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
