The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, defying expectations. It marked South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum gained during the past six months has largely dissipated and the prospects of multiple squad members - as well as head coach the coach - now hang in the balance.
A Promising Start Disappears
The young team's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a new captain, indicated a successful handover post the close together retirements of stalwarts R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the beginning of the home campaign strengthened that view, till the Proteas turned up and handed out a fell blow.
India were a tad unfortunate that captain Gill got injured quickly in the initial match and did not participate again in the series. Yet that does not excuse or justify the side of the well below standard display in the two games against the opposition.
Some big reputations took a hit, and multiple individuals eyeing extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second series sweep in home conditions experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage the team's hopes of qualifying for the final of this cycle also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have fallen to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, a majority are against Australia. Ordinarily, playing at home would be a huge advantage - even when facing the powerful Australians. Yet the failures against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests on home soil lately is still bewildering.
In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were considered unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. A rare failure, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an aberration.
Today, the team appear to be beatable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition exploited them better, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because domestic pitches have been modified from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them in the past.
While there is some truth in these views, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complicated issue, not just a couple of reasons.
Analysts and squad members have highlighted several failings post India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, arrogance, frequent changes of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was obvious in the displays of the side.
Members like Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Just a few - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The review also included the entire setup - the selection panel and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by upset followers and critical former players. At the centre of the criticism was mentor Gambhir.
At his post-series press
