The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover after the close together departures of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the well below standard showing in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second series sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of making the final of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have dropped to number five. Although nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, India appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Although there is validity in these views, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
