The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash on home soil endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the decider of this edition as well.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to number five. Although nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Today, India seem beatable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has removed the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
Although there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
