India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition after the almost concurrent retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of reaching the final of this season also.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, India have been relegated to number five. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Now, the team seem beatable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
