The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - including head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover post the near-simultaneous exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard display in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep at home suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Today, the team look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws after the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
