India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover following the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of qualifying for the final of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, India have fallen to number five. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team seem vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is validity in these views, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
