The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover after the almost concurrent retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, until the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill got injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of making the showpiece of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, the team look to be beatable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them earlier.
While there is validity in these views, it does not clarify the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
