The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the near-simultaneous exits of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, until the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par display in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of making the final of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, India seem beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws post the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
