The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the last several months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - including head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover post the near-simultaneous exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, before the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing display in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second whitewash at home suffered by India in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of reaching the final of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Currently, India seem vulnerable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
While there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the showings of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The review also included just the players - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
