The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - including head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition post the close together retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill got injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of making the showpiece of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
