The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa handed India a record Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in India in a quarter-century and India's second home series loss in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover following the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season boosted that belief, until the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard performance in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and multiple individuals eyeing lengthy Test careers were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second whitewash on home soil experienced by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's chances of making the showpiece of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table prior to the contest, India have fallen to number five. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. However the disasters against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in Test cricket has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests at home recently is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an aberration.
Currently, the team look to be vulnerable at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as rivals used them more effectively, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed abroad.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
Even though there is some truth in these views, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
The majority of ex-cricketers identify a complicated issue, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem didn't spare the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
During his post-series press
