The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition following the close together departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's chances of reaching the final of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, India seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to succeed abroad.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
While there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
