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.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition after the close together exits of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury very early in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing performance in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second series sweep at home experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this edition also.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have dropped to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, India look to be easy pickings at home.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been modified from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted multiple deficiencies after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and prioritising limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the squad.
Cricketers like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis targeted just the players - team selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
