The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record defeat in terms of runs, defying expectations. It marked the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover post the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 win over West Indies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Shubman Gill was injured very early in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the team of the highly disappointing showing in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were shown as not yet good enough - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep at home endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had pulled off a surprising 3-0 triumph which effectively cost India a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's prospects of making the showpiece of this edition too.
From number three in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine further games are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, playing at home would be a huge advantage - including against the strong Australian side. But the failures against the Kiwis and the Proteas leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
India's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have performed so poorly in Tests on home soil recently is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered impregnable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Currently, the team seem vulnerable in their own backyard.
Facing New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were hoisted by their own petard. The tracks they curated to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is struggling in home conditions because domestic pitches have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would present to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain why India's performances at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have pointed to several failings after India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, poor preparation, flawed selections, arrogance, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and favoring limited-overs over Test cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the side.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare just the players - selectors and backroom team were also under fire, spurred on by upset followers and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
