India's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover following the close together exits of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing showing in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second whitewash on home soil endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's hopes of reaching the decider of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have fallen to number five. Even though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Now, India seem beatable in their own backyard.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to help their style failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
A few mention that the IPL, in which many overseas players take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis targeted just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
