The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep on home soil endured by India in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which practically cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of making the decider of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to number five. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, the team appear to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
