The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa inflicted upon India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' first series win in India in a quarter-century and India's another home failure in just a year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory built over the last several months has almost disappeared and the prospects of multiple squad members - including head coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
A Promising Start Vanishes
The new-look squad's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, suggested a smooth transition after the almost concurrent retirements of key players Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home season boosted that belief, till the Proteas came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill was injured very early in the opening Test and was ruled out in the series. However, that fails to account for the team of the highly disappointing showing in each match against South Africa.
Some big reputations took a hit, and a few members aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Worrying Trend
It was the second clean sweep on home soil experienced by the Indian team in just a year. In 2024, little-fancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa could damage India's prospects of making the showpiece of this edition as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have fallen to number five. Even though nine further games are remaining, half of these are against Australia. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - including against the powerful Australians. But the failures against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason India have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as unbeatable in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in 2012-13 against the English, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, the team appear to be beatable at home.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as the opposition used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is failing in home conditions because home surfaces have been altered from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed overseas.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars take part, has taken away the surprise and difficulty subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in both analyses, it does not clarify the reason India's performances on home soil have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers diagnose a complicated issue, not just a few causes.
Critics and players have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and prioritising white-ball over the longer format.
This was obvious in the performances of the squad.
Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were looking to cement their position in the squad - fell short in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but inadequately to secure victories.
Coaching Scrutiny
The post-mortem also included just the players - selectors and coaching staff were also questioned, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
