The Indian cricket team's surprising 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 Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - along with head mentor the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and several players eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep in home conditions suffered by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated the Kiwis had pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage the team's prospects of reaching the final of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have fallen to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the strong Australian side. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, the team seem beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to do well overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have pointed to various flaws post the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press