The Indian cricket team's surprising 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 a record Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - as well as head coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The young team's strong showing in England this season, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover after the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the domestic season enhanced that perception, till the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that skipper Shubman Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. Yet that fails to account for the side of the well below standard display in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers suffered, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This represented the second clean sweep in home conditions endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, underestimated New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 victory which practically cost India a spot in the WTC final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas threatens to derail the team's chances of qualifying for the final of this season as well.
From number three in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to number five. Even though nine further games are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - including against the powerful Australians. Yet the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in the longer format has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered invincible in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was viewed as an anomaly.
Currently, the team appear to be beatable at home.
Versus New Zealand in last year and South Africa currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as the opposition exploited them better, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars play, has removed the mystery and hardship Indian conditions would present to them in the past.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it does not clarify why India's performances at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified various flaws following India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over the longer format.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - fell short in ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review didn't spare the entire setup - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
