The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover after the close together retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep at home experienced by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's chances of qualifying for the decider of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Today, the team look to be beatable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
