The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - as well as team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover following the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard performance in each match against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of qualifying for the final of this season as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Today, India appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because home surfaces have been modified from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
