India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - including head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, till the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash on home soil experienced by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of making the decider of this cycle as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to fifth place. Although nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, India appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
