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 inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' initial series triumph in India in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a 12-year invincible streak.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of several players - including head mentor the coach - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a new captain, indicated a seamless changeover following the close together exits of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the domestic season strengthened that view, till the South Africans turned up and handed out a devastating defeat.
The home side were a bit unlucky that captain Gill got injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that neither explains nor absolves the side of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second whitewash on home soil endured by India in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The latest loss to the Proteas could damage the team's prospects of reaching the decider of this cycle too.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have dropped to number five. Although nine additional matches are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the powerful Australians. However the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Today, India seem vulnerable at home.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa currently, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to prepare players to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has taken away the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them before.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a multi-faceted challenge, not only a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws after the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over Test cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the team.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but inadequately to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The post-mortem also included just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the examination was mentor Gambhir.
In his post-series press
