India's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard display in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the final of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, India have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, the team seem beatable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
