India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - including head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover following the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard performance in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of making the final of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have fallen to number five. Though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, the team appear to be beatable at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
While there is validity in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
