The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - as well as head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition post the almost concurrent retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, until the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard display in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the decider of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been modified from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
While there is validity in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
