The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - including head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover following the close together retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing display in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep at home endured by India in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of making the final of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, India appear to be beatable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has removed the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
While there is validity in each argument, it still does not explain why the team's showings at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted just the players - team selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
