India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition post the close together retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing display in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep on home soil endured by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of making the final of this season as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.
Today, India seem beatable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
