The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover after the close together departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the start of the home season strengthened that view, until the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Gill got injured very early in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the highly disappointing performance in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and a few members hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of reaching the decider of this cycle as well.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - even against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, why India have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an exception.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the mystery and hardship home wickets would challenge them with in the past.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it does not clarify why the team's showings at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Analysts and squad members have identified various flaws post the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the team lineup, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the squad.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
