The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of qualifying for the final of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, India have fallen to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, India appear to be beatable at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
