The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured early on in the initial match and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing performance in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's hopes of making the decider of this edition as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to number five. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
