The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 series 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 defeat in terms of runs, against all odds. This represented the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The momentum established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the careers of multiple squad members - as well as head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
Early Optimism Disappears
The emerging side's impressive performance in England this summer, under a new captain, suggested a seamless changeover post the close together exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 triumph over West Indies at the start of the home season enhanced that perception, before the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that captain Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and took no further part in the contest. However, that does not excuse or justify the squad of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against South Africa.
Several established players were damaged, and multiple individuals eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - in ability or temperament - for the Test cricket.
A Troubling Pattern
It was the second clean sweep at home experienced by India in just a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had achieved a staggering 3-0 victory which practically cost the hosts a place in the Test championship finale.
The recent defeat to South Africa threatens to derail India's chances of reaching the final of this cycle too.
From number three in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine additional matches are remaining, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the mighty Aussies. Yet the failures against New Zealand and South Africa provide no basis for that confidence.
Reasons for the Slump
The national team's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have struggled so much in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered unbeatable in red-ball cricket in home conditions. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that helped spin and aided their squad, India brooked no opposition. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was seen as an anomaly.
Today, the team appear to be beatable on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and the Proteas this year, India were beaten at their own game. The pitches they curated to help their style backfired spectacularly, as rivals used them more effectively, surpassing the Indian batters and bowlers when it mattered most.
The Core Issue
Some suggest that India is failing at home because local wickets have been modified from turners to fast tracks to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers play, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge home wickets would pose to them earlier.
Although there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it still does not explain why the team's showings on home soil have experienced such a dramatic drop.
Several Weaknesses
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, lack of preparation, questionable picks, excessive self-belief, constant chopping and changing of the playing XI, and prioritising white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was clear in the performances of the team.
Members like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, suffered for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their place in the team - fell short in technique and temperament, suffering the consequences for their nonchalant approach.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - fulfilled their talent and reputation - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The analysis also included not only the cricketers - the selection panel and support staff were also questioned, fuelled by distraught fans and critical former players. In the spotlight of the examination was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
