India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover following the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the final of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have fallen to number five. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, India seem beatable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain why India's performances at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included just the players - selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
