The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - as well as team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition following the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep at home experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of making the decider of this season as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
