India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover following the almost concurrent exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's hopes of qualifying for the final of this season as well.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have dropped to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Today, India appear to be easy pickings at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
While there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review also included just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
