The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the just finished Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Earlier this week, South Africa gave India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in a quarter-century and the host nation's second defeat at home in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The momentum built over the past six months has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - along with head coach Gautam Gambhir - are under scrutiny.
Initial Hope Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in England this summer, under a different skipper, pointed to a smooth transition following the near-simultaneous exits of veterans Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 win over West Indies at the commencement of the home campaign enhanced that perception, until the Proteas came and inflicted a crushing loss.
The home side were a tad unfortunate that leader Gill was injured early on in the first Test and took no further part in the series. Yet that fails to account for the team of the terribly sub-par performance in the two games against South Africa.
Some big reputations suffered, and multiple individuals hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be not yet good enough - in skill or mindset - for the longer format.
Concerning History
This was the second clean sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had pulled off a remarkable 3-0 win which effectively cost India a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of making the decider of this edition also.
Previously ranked third in the WTC table ahead of the matches, India have fallen to the fifth spot. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against Australia. Usually, performing in familiar conditions would be a huge advantage - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for that confidence.
Causes of the Fall
The national team's frailty in Test cricket has been badly exposed. However, the reason India have fared so badly in Tests on home soil recently is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, the Indian cricket team were considered invincible in Test cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on pitches that favored spin bowling and benefited their players, the hosts brooked no opposition. A rare failure, such as in 2012-13 against the English, was seen as an exception.
Now, the team seem easy pickings on home turf.
Facing New Zealand in last year and the Proteas this year, the home side were hoisted by their own petard. The surfaces they curated to suit their strengths failed miserably, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the home team's players when it counted the most.
The Core Issue
A few experts argue that India is struggling in home conditions because local wickets have been altered from spinning tracks to fast tracks to get cricketers ready to succeed overseas.
Some point out that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge subcontinental pitches would pose to them in the past.
Although there is validity in each argument, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a sharp fall.
Multiple Failings
Most former players diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not only a few causes.
Critics and players have highlighted various flaws after India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, questionable picks, arrogance, regular alterations of the playing XI, and emphasizing limited-overs over the longer format.
This was evident in the showings of the side.
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 ability and attitude, facing the fallout for their casual attitude.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Siraj and Sundar - fulfilled their skill and fame - but not well enough to win matches.
Leadership Under Fire
The review targeted not only the cricketers - team selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, spurred on by distraught fans and outspoken ex-cricketers. In the spotlight of the scrutiny was team coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
