The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in India 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 established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition post the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions endured by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, India appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
