The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has all but vanished and the futures of several players - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition after the close together departures of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, till the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing showing in each match against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and a few members hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of reaching the decider of this cycle as well.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to number five. Although nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, why the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, the team appear to be beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
