The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover after the close together departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par display in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost India a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's chances of qualifying for the final of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Now, India look to be beatable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to do well abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted the entire setup - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
