The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the last several months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing display in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep on home soil endured by India in just over a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this edition as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them in the past.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Players like Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
