The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - as well as team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition post the close together departures of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. However, that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition as well.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to number five. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an aberration.
Now, the team seem easy pickings in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them earlier.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason the side's results on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis also included the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
