The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition after the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and took no further part in the series. However, that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard performance in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep at home suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this season too.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine further games are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Today, India seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to help their style failed miserably, as opponents used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
