The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented 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 a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover following the near-simultaneous exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard performance in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were shown as still inadequate - in skill or mindset - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, India have dropped to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, five of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, India appear to be vulnerable at home.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa this year, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
While there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a multi-faceted challenge, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws following the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Cricketers like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
