The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has left the team reeling.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a smooth transition following the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which essentially denied India a spot in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of making the final of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have dropped to number five. Although nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, India look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to various flaws following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis didn't spare the entire setup - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, driven by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
