The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover following the close together retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard showing in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of making the final of this season too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, India look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to do well abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted just the players - selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
