The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition after the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing showing in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of making the showpiece of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, why India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Now, India appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to help their style failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
