The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has left the team reeling.
Earlier this week, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - as well as head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover post the close together departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill got injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this cycle as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to number five. Although nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. However the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, the team look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would pose to them before.
Even though there is validity in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings post India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
