The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent exits of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage India's chances of reaching the final of this cycle too.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, India have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine further games are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, India look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which many overseas players participate, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the side.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
