The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of making the final of this edition also.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Now, India appear to be beatable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
