The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover after the close together departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. But that fails to account for the side of the well below standard display in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and a few members aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep on home soil endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this edition too.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, the team look to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
