The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover after the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that fails to account for the side of the well below standard display in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this season too.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
