The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa gave India a record loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum gained during the last several months has almost disappeared and the careers of a number of cricketers - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover post the almost concurrent departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, until the Proteas arrived to deliver a fell blow.
The home side were a bit unlucky that leader Shubman Gill was injured very early in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members eyeing extended tenures in Tests were exposed as not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's chances of reaching the showpiece of this edition as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings before the series, the side have been relegated to number five. Even though nine further games are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. But the debacles against the Kiwis and the Proteas provide no basis for such comfort.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason the team have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is remains puzzling.
In the 21st century, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an exception.
Today, the team appear to be beatable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths backfired spectacularly, as opponents exploited them better, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from turners to quick wickets to prepare players to do well abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which many overseas players play, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it still does not explain the reason India's performances on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just one or two factors.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies following the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the showings of the team.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The review also included just the players - selectors and backroom team were also questioned, driven by distraught fans and vocal past stars. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
