The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition following the almost concurrent retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the final of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, the side have fallen to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Today, the team seem easy pickings at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
