The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous exits of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard display in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's hopes of making the showpiece of this season as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, the team seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
