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 gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition after the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill was injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Now, India look to be easy pickings at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with before.
While there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review also included the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
