India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - along with team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover after the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's chances of reaching the final of this season also.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to number five. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, India seem vulnerable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
