The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing display in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's prospects of making the decider of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Although nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Now, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them earlier.
While there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
