The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover after the close together retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing performance in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second series sweep at home endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail the team's chances of qualifying for the final of this season as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to number five. Even though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, the team seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to help their style failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would challenge them with before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
