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, the visiting team handed India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - along with head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's commendable display in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover following the almost concurrent departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill got injured early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and several players aspiring to lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming the team's prospects of making the final of this season too.
After being third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. However the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were considered unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Currently, India look to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is struggling at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to perform better overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The review targeted the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
