The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep on home soil endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of making the final of this season too.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Currently, India look to be beatable at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified several failings post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
