The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent 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 momentum built over the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of multiple squad members - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition post the almost concurrent retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing showing in each match against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of making the showpiece of this cycle too.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Today, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
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 exploited them better, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
