India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. But that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing performance in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash on home soil suffered by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates 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 England, was considered an aberration.
Today, the team look to be easy pickings at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is validity in these views, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified several failings post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
