India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover after the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of making the showpiece of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them earlier.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
