The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover post the almost concurrent exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep at home experienced by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of making the decider of this season too.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Now, India appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well overseas.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted just the players - selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
