India's surprising 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash at home endured by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this season also.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, India have fallen to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. 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 England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, India 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 backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
