India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover post the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard showing in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this season too.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Today, India seem beatable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
