The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover post the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill got injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of making the final of this cycle too.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to fifth place. Though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in these views, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
