The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover following the near-simultaneous departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard performance in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's prospects of making the showpiece of this cycle as well.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them before.
Even though there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
