The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum built over the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in the UK this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition after the almost concurrent departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the beginning of the domestic season boosted that belief, until the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Shubman Gill got injured early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the highly disappointing performance in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not up to the mark - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep on home soil suffered by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 win which practically cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas threatens to derail India's hopes of reaching the decider of this edition as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings ahead of the matches, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the mighty Aussies. However the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, the team seem easy pickings on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they prepared to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that the Indian team is struggling at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
While there is some truth in each argument, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to multiple deficiencies following India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, frequent changes of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to win matches.
Management Questions
The analysis also included the entire setup - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
