The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the futures of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition following the almost concurrent departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill was injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the squad of the well below standard display in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's chances of qualifying for the decider of this cycle too.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Now, the team seem beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them earlier.
While there is validity in each argument, it does not clarify why the side's results at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted multiple deficiencies after the team's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, poor choices, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - came up short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and backroom team were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
