India's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the series. However, that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
This represented the second clean sweep at home suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the decider of this cycle too.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, the team look to be beatable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified several failings after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
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