The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a new captain, pointed to a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the well below standard performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were shown as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of qualifying for the final of this edition also.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine further games are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an exception.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to perform better in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them before.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to various flaws following the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
