India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover after the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing display in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's chances of making the showpiece of this edition also.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, India seem beatable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
