India's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in 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 Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition following the almost concurrent retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of making the decider of this edition also.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Currently, India appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
While there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare just the players - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
