India's unexpected 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover post the almost concurrent retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash at home experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of reaching the final of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, India look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
