India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover following the close together exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard display in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of making the decider of this cycle as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Today, India look to be vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is failing at home because local wickets have been modified from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is validity in these views, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
