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 handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's initial series triumph in India in a quarter-century and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the prospects of a number of cricketers - including head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition post the close together exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home season strengthened that view, before the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill got injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. Yet that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just a year. Last year, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 win which effectively cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa could damage India's hopes of qualifying for the final of this season too.
After being third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, the side have fallen to number five. Although nine further games are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches at home in recent times is continues to confuse.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Now, the team seem beatable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been modified from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players take part, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it does not clarify the reason the side's results on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a multi-faceted challenge, not just a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to multiple deficiencies following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - were found wanting in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, driven by upset followers and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
