India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to South Africa in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover post the almost concurrent retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing display in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep in home conditions endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of making the decider of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Currently, India appear to be vulnerable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv 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, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
