India's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill got injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep on home soil experienced by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to number five. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Now, India look to be vulnerable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them earlier.
While there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings post India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
