India's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover following the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing display in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash at home endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be vulnerable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Although there is validity in these views, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
