The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, till the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing display in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, the team look to be beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to help their style failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them before.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
