India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Now, the team seem beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
While there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
