The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - along with team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the almost concurrent exits of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and did not participate again in the contest. However, that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par showing in both Tests against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash at home endured by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The latest loss to the Proteas threatens to derail India's prospects of qualifying for the decider of this cycle also.
After being third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have been relegated to fifth place. Though nine more Tests are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been significantly highlighted. That said, why India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil recently is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, India were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against the English, was considered an exception.
Now, the team look to be beatable on home turf.
Facing the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The pitches they developed to favor their game failed miserably, as the opposition used them more effectively, outplaying the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to do well overseas.
Some point out that the IPL, in which several international stars take part, has reduced the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
While there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings at home have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not only a few causes.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted various flaws post the team's humiliating loss to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the squad.
Members such as Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their carelessness, while Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their spot in the side - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review also included not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
