India's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - including head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of making the showpiece of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, the team seem beatable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
While there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
