The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury very early in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing showing in each match against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of making the final of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an exception.
Now, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to help their style failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, surpassing the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is validity in these views, it does not clarify the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
