India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover post the close together departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. But that fails to account for the team of the well below standard display in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Now, India look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - selectors 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 Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
