The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition post the close together retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. But that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing showing in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of reaching the decider of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Now, India seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why India's performances at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies post India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
