The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a new captain, indicated a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep at home experienced by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the decider of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
