The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa gave India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was South Africa's first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum established in the past six months has all but vanished and the futures of several players - along with head mentor the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The young team's strong showing in England this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover following the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury quickly in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the side of the well below standard display in each match against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and a few members hoping for long red-ball careers were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost India a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage India's prospects of making the decider of this season also.
From number three in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the powerful Australians. However the disasters against New Zealand and the Proteas provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
India's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, why India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil lately is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Today, India seem vulnerable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, outplaying the home team's players when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Even though there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
In his post-series press
