The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition after the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard display in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash on home soil endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of reaching the final of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, India look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to help their style failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
