The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India their heaviest loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. It marked the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum built over the last several months has largely dissipated and the prospects of several players - including head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Vanishes
The new-look squad's strong showing in England this season, under a different skipper, pointed to a successful handover post the near-simultaneous retirements of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the beginning of the home season enhanced that perception, before the South Africans came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill was injured early on in the opening Test and took no further part in the contest. But that fails to account for the squad of the well below standard performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players took a hit, and several players aspiring to long red-ball careers were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the format.
Worrying Trend
This was the second whitewash on home soil suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The fresh failure to the Proteas could damage the team's chances of reaching the final of this cycle as well.
After being third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Although nine additional matches 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. However the disasters against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's vulnerability in the longer format has been clearly revealed. That said, the reason the team have struggled so much in Test matches on home soil recently is continues to confuse.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. In demanding climates and on pitches that assisted spinners and benefited their players, the hosts faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was considered an aberration.
Currently, India appear to be easy pickings on home turf.
Against New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The tracks they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, surpassing the home team's players when it mattered most.
What's Gone Wrong?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because local wickets have been altered from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well overseas.
Others highlight that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which several international stars take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
Although there is validity in these views, it fails to account for the reason the team's showings at home have seen such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players identify a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have highlighted several failings after India's embarrassing defeat to the South Africans: underestimating the opposition, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and prioritising limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the displays of the team.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - came up short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
Just a few - Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis didn't spare not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also criticized, fuelled by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
