India's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - including head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover following the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's chances of reaching the decider of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to number five. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Now, the team look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The review also included the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
