India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition after the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's chances of qualifying for the decider of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with before.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
