The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill got injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard display in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this season too.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, the team look to be beatable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because local wickets have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
While there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
