India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that fails to account for the team of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep at home experienced by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of making the final of this cycle as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Now, the team look to be vulnerable at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
