The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover following the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill was injured early on in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the well below standard performance in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this season also.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, the team seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with before.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
