The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover following the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that fails to account for the team of the well below standard showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of making the showpiece of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to number five. Although nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team look to be beatable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
