India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was 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 winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming India's chances of making the final of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, the team seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
