The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition after the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the team of the well below standard display in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This was the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of reaching the final of this season also.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to number five. Although nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, competing on home turf would be a major plus - including against the strong Australian side. But the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
India's weakness in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, India dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Today, India appear to be vulnerable at home.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The tracks they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been altered from turners to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, arrogance, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was evident in the showings of the team.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - were found wanting in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
