The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second home series loss in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - including team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a successful handover post the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured quickly in the opening Test and did not participate again in the series. But that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par display in each match against the opposition.
Several established players took a hit, and several players eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a place in the WTC final.
The latest loss to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of reaching the showpiece of this edition too.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to number five. Though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, competing on home turf would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been clearly revealed. Nevertheless, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were seen as invincible in Test cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an aberration.
Currently, India appear to be easy pickings at home.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as rivals exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would present to them earlier.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain the reason India's performances at home have experienced such a sharp fall.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies following India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also criticized, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the criticism was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
