The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover after the close together departures of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill got injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash at home suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of making the final of this season too.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, India look to be beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to help their style failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, beating 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 changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them before.
Even though there is validity in these views, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press