The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover post the close together departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard showing in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep at home experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of making the decider of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Now, India appear to be vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them before.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why the side's results on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis also included just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
