India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing showing in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second series sweep on home soil experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of reaching the showpiece of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Now, the team look to be beatable on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press