The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - including head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this cycle as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to number five. Though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, why India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.
Now, India look to be beatable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
While there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
