The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition after the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. But that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash at home endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of making the showpiece of this cycle as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
While there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
