The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the just finished 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. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's second defeat at home in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm built over the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The new-look squad's impressive performance in England this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
An easy 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, until the South Africans turned up and handed out a fell blow.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players suffered, and several players aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep at home endured by India in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of making the showpiece of this edition also.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, India have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Usually, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even against the strong Australian side. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's vulnerability in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Currently, the team appear to be vulnerable in their own backyard.
Versus the Kiwis in last year and South Africa currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths went wrong completely, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is floundering at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to get cricketers ready to perform better in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with before.
Even though there is validity in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have identified several failings post India's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, regular alterations of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the side.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - were found wanting in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The post-mortem targeted just the players - the selection panel and backroom team were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
