India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover post the near-simultaneous departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard display in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this cycle as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Currently, the team look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included just the players - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
