The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover after the near-simultaneous departures of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard showing in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of reaching the decider of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, the team appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them in the past.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it still does not explain why the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified several failings after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
