The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover after the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill got injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of qualifying for the final of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, the side have dropped to number five. Though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, the team appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them before.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review targeted the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
