The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition post the close together retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of making the showpiece of this season too.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, India seem vulnerable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them before.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
