The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of making the final of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, the team look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to do well abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
While there is validity in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis also included the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
