The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover after the close together departures of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and did not participate again in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard display in both Tests against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have fallen to number five. Although nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. But the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have fared so badly in Test matches at home recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, the team look to be beatable at home.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which many overseas players play, has taken away the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would pose to them earlier.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for why the side's results on home soil have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws post the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in skill and mindset, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to claim wins.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review also included just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
