India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's 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 positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
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 close together retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, till the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's chances of making the decider of this season too.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Now, India appear to be beatable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why India's performances at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
