India's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm gained during the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover following the near-simultaneous departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of making the decider of this edition also.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Now, the team look to be beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted just the players - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
