India's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has all but vanished and the careers of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the well below standard showing in each match against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 win which practically cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this season too.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. However the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Currently, India appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complicated issue, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted several failings following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included just the players - selectors and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
