India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing display in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this edition as well.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Now, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to help their style failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified several failings after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar 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 lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
