India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of reaching the final of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press