India's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recent red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, contrary to predictions. It was South Africa's maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and India's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has largely dissipated and the futures of a number of cricketers - including head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Vanishes
The emerging side's commendable display in the UK this summer, under a new captain, suggested a successful handover following the near-simultaneous retirements of veterans Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the domestic season boosted that belief, till the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
India were somewhat unlucky that leader Gill got injured very early in the initial match and was ruled out in the series. But that neither explains nor absolves the side of the highly disappointing showing in both Tests against the opposition.
Some big reputations suffered, and several players hoping for extended tenures in Tests were shown as still inadequate - in ability or temperament - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a surprising 3-0 victory which essentially denied India a place in the WTC final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's chances of making the final of this season as well.
After being third in the WTC table prior to the contest, the side have dropped to the fifth spot. Though nine more Tests are yet to be played, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. However the debacles against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such assurance.
Causes of the Fall
India's frailty in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, why India have performed so poorly in Tests at home in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that helped spin and benefited their players, India faced little challenge. The occasional loss, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an exception.
Now, India appear to be beatable on home turf.
Against New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, India were defeated by their own tactics. The surfaces they developed to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition capitalized on them more skillfully, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it counted the most.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is failing at home because local wickets have been changed from turners to pace-friendly pitches to train the squad to succeed overseas.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has taken away the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would pose to them earlier.
Although there is some truth in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances at home have seen such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not just a couple of reasons.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws following the team's humiliating loss to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, lack of preparation, flawed selections, excessive self-belief, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the team.
Players like Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, were punished for their nonchalance, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Management Questions
The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by upset followers and critical former players. Under focus of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
At his post-series press
