India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition post the close together retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of making the final of this season too.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have fallen to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Currently, the team seem easy pickings at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to help their style failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Although there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws post India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included just the players - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
