India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of reaching the decider of this edition also.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, India appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them before.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
