The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover following the close together retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of qualifying for the final of this cycle too.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, the team seem beatable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
