India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous exits of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of reaching the final of this season as well.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, India have been relegated to number five. Although nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Today, the team seem vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
While there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
