India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard display in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the decider of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine further games are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them before.
While there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted just the players - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
