The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition post the almost concurrent retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the home season strengthened that view, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of making the showpiece of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, the team appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified several failings following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
