The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in 25 years and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of a number of cricketers - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, pointed to a successful handover post the close together retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations were damaged, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of making the showpiece of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, why the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Now, the team seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they developed to help their style failed miserably, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is failing at home because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for why the side's results at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
