India's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover post the almost concurrent exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill got injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition too.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Currently, India appear to be easy pickings at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Although there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
