India's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover post the near-simultaneous exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard display in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of reaching the decider of this season as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Although there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
