India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition following the close together retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par display in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's chances of qualifying for the final of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, India appear to be beatable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
While there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
