The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of reaching the showpiece of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have dropped to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, the team seem beatable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them in the past.
While there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
