The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a successful handover after the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard performance in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep on home soil experienced by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of making the decider of this season also.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates 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 viewed as an aberration.
Today, India look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their lack of application, 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.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review targeted the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
