India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition post the almost concurrent retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep at home experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's chances of making the showpiece of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Currently, the team look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The review also included just the players - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
