The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill got injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. But that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing display in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of qualifying for the final of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Currently, India look to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis didn't spare just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
