The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover after the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the side of the well below standard performance in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of making the showpiece of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, the team look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified several failings after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
