The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover post the close together retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, until the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash at home suffered by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of making the decider of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, India appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them before.
While there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
