The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the close together departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash at home experienced by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of making the showpiece of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Today, the team look to be beatable at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
