The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a successful handover following the almost concurrent exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home campaign boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard showing in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep on home soil endured by India in just over a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this cycle also.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, the team appear to be beatable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws following India's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
