The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa inflicted upon India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum gained during the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of several players - as well as head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover following the near-simultaneous departures of veterans R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and multiple individuals hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second whitewash at home endured by India in just a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's chances of qualifying for the final of this season also.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have been relegated to number five. Though nine additional matches are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such comfort.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why the team have performed so poorly in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an aberration.
Today, the team seem beatable in their own backyard.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they curated to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have experienced such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Members such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The analysis also included just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
