The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard showing in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash at home endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this edition too.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, the team look to be vulnerable at home.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
