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, the visiting team gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of multiple squad members - along with head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a seamless changeover after the almost concurrent departures of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, before the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the series. However, that fails to account for the side of the highly disappointing performance in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals aspiring to long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a place in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage the team's chances of reaching the showpiece of this edition too.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Now, India look to be beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they prepared to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better abroad.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified various flaws post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - came up short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis also included the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
