India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition post the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of making the decider of this edition as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.
Now, the team look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been modified from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted just the players - selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
