The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover post the close together exits of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par display in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of qualifying for the final of this edition also.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Today, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
