India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill was injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard showing in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of reaching the showpiece of this edition as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, India seem easy pickings on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them before.
While there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
