India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of several players - as well as team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard display in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash at home endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's chances of making the final of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to number five. Although nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, the team seem easy pickings on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies post India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
