The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of qualifying for the final of this season as well.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, the side have fallen to fifth place. Though nine further games are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, India appear to be easy pickings at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws post the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, 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, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review also included the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
