India's surprising 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 gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition post the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep at home experienced by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of making the final of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, India appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified several failings following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
