The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's first series win in India in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this season, under a different skipper, suggested a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the Proteas turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury quickly in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par display in each match against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players eyeing lengthy Test careers were shown as not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
It was the second series sweep on home soil suffered by India in just a year. Last year, little-fancied New Zealand had achieved a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of making the decider of this cycle too.
From number three in the WTC table before the series, India have fallen to fifth place. Although nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an anomaly.
Currently, the team seem easy pickings on home turf.
Versus New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
Although there is validity in these views, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the squad.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - came up short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
