The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover post the close together departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing display in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash at home experienced by India in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of reaching the final of this edition also.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Today, the team seem beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them before.
While there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
