India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard display in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of making the showpiece of this edition also.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have been relegated to number five. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, the team look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to help their style failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Although there is validity in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The review also included just the players - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
