The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. 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 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. But that fails to account for the side of the well below standard display in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep at home suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's chances of making the decider of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have dropped to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, the team look to be beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them before.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
