The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the last several months has all but vanished and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover following the close together retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the well below standard performance in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's prospects of making the final of this cycle as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, India have dropped to number five. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Now, India look to be beatable at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have identified various flaws after India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis also included the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
