India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover following the close together departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the final of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to number five. Although nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, the team look to be easy pickings at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified several failings following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
