The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. This represented South Africa's first series win in India in two and a half decades and India's second home series loss in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The positive trajectory gained during the past six months has almost disappeared and the prospects of several players - along with team coach the coach - are now uncertain.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this season, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over the Windies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and took no further part in the series. However, that fails to account for the squad of the terribly sub-par showing in the two games against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals aspiring to extended tenures in Tests were revealed to be not yet good enough - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied the Kiwis had achieved a staggering 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of qualifying for the showpiece of this season also.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, India have dropped to number five. Although nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Usually, competing on home turf would be a huge advantage - even against the powerful Australians. Yet the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. That said, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests at home lately is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on surfaces that helped spin and benefited their players, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, like in the 2012-13 season against the English, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, the team seem easy pickings at home.
Versus the Kiwis in 2024 and the Proteas currently, India were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they prepared to help their style backfired spectacularly, as opponents used them more effectively, outplaying India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering in home conditions because home surfaces have been changed from spinning tracks to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better abroad.
Others highlight that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has taken away the surprise and difficulty Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
While there is some truth in these views, it still does not explain the reason the side's results at home have seen such a staggering decline.
Multiple Failings
Many past stars identify a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have pointed to several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, lack of preparation, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and favoring white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the showings of the side.
Cricketers such as Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their spot in the side - were found wanting in technique and temperament, facing the fallout for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted just the players - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and vocal past stars. Under focus of the criticism was head coach Gambhir.
During his post-series press
