India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover following the almost concurrent retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. However, that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, India seem beatable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them before.
While there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
