India's shocking 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition after the close together exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's chances of reaching the final of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Currently, the team seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to help their style failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
