The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - as well as team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover following the close together exits of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. But that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of making the showpiece of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have dropped to number five. Although nine further games are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, India seem beatable at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
While there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
