India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the almost concurrent exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's chances of reaching the decider of this cycle as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, the team seem easy pickings at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
