India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the near-simultaneous departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, till the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this edition too.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be beatable on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
