India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover post the close together retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's chances of making the showpiece of this season too.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine further games are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team look to be vulnerable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
