The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest defeat in terms of runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the close together exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing display in the two games against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep at home experienced by India in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to South Africa risks harming India's chances of reaching the decider of this season too.
From number three in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the mighty Aussies. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's frailty in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests at home in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was seen as an exception.
Currently, the team appear to be easy pickings at home.
Facing the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths failed miserably, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing at home because home surfaces have been changed from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to do well in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them in the past.
Even though there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have pointed to multiple deficiencies after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over Test cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - fell short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem targeted the entire setup - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
