India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover following the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of making the final of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to number five. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, the team look to be vulnerable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Although there is validity in these views, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted just the players - selectors and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
