India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash at home endured by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of qualifying for the final of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
