India's shocking 0-2 defeat to South Africa in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover following the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the final of this season as well.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team seem beatable at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
