The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition following the close together departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill got injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of reaching the final of this cycle as well.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, the team look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Although there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
