India's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition after the close together retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of reaching the decider of this season too.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to number five. Although nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered impregnable 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 occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, India seem beatable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
