India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover post the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's chances of qualifying for the decider of this season also.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Now, India seem easy pickings at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to help their style failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
