The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover post the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard display in each match against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the final of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to number five. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Now, India seem easy pickings at home.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
