India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent exits of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing display in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the decider of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, India seem easy pickings at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them before.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
