The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - along with head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this season too.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team appear to be beatable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them before.
While there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
