India's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover post the close together departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing showing in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this season as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, India seem easy pickings at home.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would present to them before.
Even though there is validity in these views, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
