India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover post the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the decider of this season also.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, the team seem easy pickings on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been modified from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings following the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
