The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team gave India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - including head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a smooth transition after the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, before the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players aspiring to long red-ball 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 suffered by India in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of qualifying for the final of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine further games are yet to be played, half of these are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Currently, India look to be beatable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Some suggest that the Indian team is failing at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Most former players point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
