India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover following the close together retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par display in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have performed so poorly in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is validity in these views, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
