The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover after the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard display in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash at home suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's chances of making the showpiece of this edition as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks 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 reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
