The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the careers of several players - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, pointed to a smooth transition post the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par display in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members 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 series sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of making the decider of this cycle also.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home 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. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, India seem vulnerable on home turf.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would present to them before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
