The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Disappears
The young team's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous exits of key players R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of making the decider of this edition as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Even though nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in the longer format has been clearly revealed. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Today, the team seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would present to them before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their place in the team - were found wanting in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
