The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover following the near-simultaneous departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. But that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash in home conditions suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this edition too.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, the side have fallen to number five. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, the team look to be easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to do well in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted just the players - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
