India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard performance in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of making the showpiece of this season as well.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Now, India seem easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
