India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover following the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of qualifying for the final of this season too.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have dropped to number five. Although nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, India look to be vulnerable at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
