India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover post the close together retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash on home soil endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of qualifying for the final of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, India have fallen to number five. Even though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
