India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover post the almost concurrent departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard display in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash at home experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this edition also.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, the team look to be easy pickings at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
While there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
