India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - along with team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition following the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's chances of reaching the showpiece of this season too.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to number five. Though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
