The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - as well as head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover post the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, till the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to lengthy Test careers were exposed as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to number five. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, India appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to help their style failed miserably, 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 the Indian team is failing at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
Although there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason the side's results on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws following India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
