India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition following the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing display in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash on home soil suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the decider of this season as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to number five. Although nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, India look to be easy pickings at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering 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.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
