The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - along with team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
It was the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a berth in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the final of this season also.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even against the strong Australian side. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an aberration.
Currently, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
While there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
