The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover following the close together exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of making the final of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have dropped to number five. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, India appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
