The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover after the close together retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill got injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage the team's chances of qualifying for the final of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Today, the team seem vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for why the team's showings at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
