India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - along with team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard showing in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of reaching the final of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have fallen to number five. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified several failings post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted just the players - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
