The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover following the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that fails to account for the side of the well below standard display in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have dropped to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Now, India seem beatable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
While there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
