The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent 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 the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover post the almost concurrent retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this edition too.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have dropped to number five. Although nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, India seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
