The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover post the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of reaching the final of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.
Now, India seem vulnerable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
