The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover post the close together departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash at home experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of reaching the final of this cycle too.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an aberration.
Now, the team appear to be vulnerable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified several failings following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included just the players - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
