The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition after the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard performance in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of making the decider of this edition also.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have been relegated to number five. Although nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is failing at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
