The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition post the close together retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, the team look to be vulnerable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to help their style failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is failing at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them before.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
