India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover following the close together departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard display in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of making the showpiece of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to number five. Though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
