The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The momentum established in the past six months has all but vanished and the prospects of several players - as well as team coach the coach - are under scrutiny.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, indicated a seamless changeover following the close together departures of veterans R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans came and inflicted a crushing loss.
India were somewhat unlucky that captain Shubman Gill was injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the contest. However, that neither explains nor absolves the team of the terribly sub-par performance in both Tests against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and several players hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
This represented the second series sweep at home experienced by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which essentially denied India a spot in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas risks harming India's hopes of reaching the final of this cycle as well.
Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings ahead of the matches, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine additional matches are still to come, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. But the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Roots of the Decline
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have fared so badly in Test matches at home in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were seen as impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, India dominated all comers. The odd series defeat, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.
Today, India look to be easy pickings at home.
Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to fast tracks to train the squad to perform better overseas.
Others highlight that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has removed the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a multi-faceted challenge, not only a few causes.
Experts and participants have highlighted various flaws following the team's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring white-ball over the longer format.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their carelessness, 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, paying a heavy price for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - did justice to their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Management Questions
The review didn't spare just the players - team selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, spurred on by disappointed supporters and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
