The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover after the almost concurrent retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, till the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing display in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash at home endured by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's chances of qualifying for the decider of this cycle also.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, India have fallen to fifth place. Though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Now, India look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
While there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
