India's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - as well as team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover following the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash at home experienced by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this cycle too.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Although nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Currently, India seem vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
Although there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
