The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a seamless changeover post the close together exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign boosted that belief, until the South Africans arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members eyeing lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's hopes of making the decider of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are remaining, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. However, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, India appear to be beatable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings after the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included the entire setup - selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
