The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover post the almost concurrent retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash on home soil endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa could damage India's hopes of reaching the decider of this cycle too.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to number five. Though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, the team appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings post India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the team lineup, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
