India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - including head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard showing in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's chances of qualifying for the final of this season also.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Now, the team seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because local wickets have been modified from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
