India's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover following the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of making the showpiece of this edition too.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to number five. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Currently, India appear to be beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them before.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
