India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover post the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard display in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Although nine further games are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, India 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 surfaces they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them in the past.
While there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted just the players - selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
