The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition after the almost concurrent departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par showing in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions endured by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this cycle also.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have fallen to number five. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Now, India look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them before.
While there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press