The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover post the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep on home soil experienced by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of making the decider of this season also.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
