The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition after the almost concurrent retirements of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the series. But that does not excuse or justify the team of the terribly sub-par display in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of reaching the showpiece of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to number five. Although nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Now, India appear to be beatable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is some truth in both analyses, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have experienced such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, regular alterations of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the squad.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
