The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover post the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of reaching the decider of this season also.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to number five. Although nine further games are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. But the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Now, India appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with before.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The review also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
