India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition following the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill was injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of reaching the showpiece of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, India seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
