The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition post the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing display in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which practically cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of qualifying for the final of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Today, India look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Members like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
