The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition after the close together exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this season too.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to fifth place. Though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Today, the team seem easy pickings at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified several failings following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
