The Indian cricket team's unexpected 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 handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover after the close together retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the start of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage India's chances of making the showpiece of this season too.
After being third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to fifth place. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Now, the team seem easy pickings on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that India is struggling at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Although there is validity in these views, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
