The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash at home experienced by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of qualifying for the final of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have fallen to number five. Though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, India seem vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them in the past.
While there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified various flaws after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
