India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep at home endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Now, India seem easy pickings at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
While there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
