The Indian cricket team's unexpected 0-2 series loss to the Proteas in the recent Test series has plunged the side into crisis.
Just days ago, South Africa gave India a record Test defeat by runs, defying expectations. This represented South Africa's initial series triumph in India in two and a half decades and India's another home failure in just one year after a decade-plus without a home loss.
The winning rhythm established in the previous half-year has almost disappeared and the careers of several players - along with head mentor Gautam Gambhir - are now uncertain.
A Promising Start Fades Quickly
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this summer, under a fresh leadership, suggested a smooth transition post the near-simultaneous retirements of key players Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A straightforward 2-0 win over the Windies at the beginning of the domestic season strengthened that view, before the Proteas arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.
The home side were somewhat unlucky that skipper Gill got injured very early in the first Test and did not participate again in the contest. Yet that fails to account for the squad of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.
Several established players suffered, and several players hoping for long red-ball careers were revealed to be still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This represented the second whitewash in home conditions experienced by India in just more than a year. Last year, little-fancied the Kiwis had secured a remarkable 3-0 victory which effectively cost the hosts a spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to the Proteas could damage the team's hopes of reaching the decider of this season too.
After being third in the WTC table before the series, the side have fallen to number five. Even though nine additional matches are yet to be played, five of these are against the Aussies. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - including against the mighty Aussies. Yet the debacles against New Zealand and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have struggled so much in Tests at home lately is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, the Indian cricket team were regarded as invincible in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on surfaces that helped spin and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India faced little challenge. A rare failure, like in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Currently, the team appear to be beatable at home.
Facing New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa this year, India were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they developed to favor their game went wrong completely, as opponents exploited them better, outplaying the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
A few experts argue that India is floundering at home because domestic pitches have been altered from spinning tracks to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to perform better abroad.
Some point out that the domestic T20 league, in which several international stars play, has removed the mystery and hardship subcontinental pitches would challenge them with in the past.
While there is validity in these views, it still does not explain the reason the team's showings on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Various Shortcomings
Many past stars diagnose a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.
Experts and participants have identified multiple deficiencies after the team's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: not respecting the foe, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, frequent changes of the playing XI, and emphasizing white-ball over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Players such as Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom so much was expected, were punished for their lack of application, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their spot in the side - came up short in ability and attitude, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.
A small number - Ravindra Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their skill and fame - but inadequately to secure victories.
Leadership Under Fire
The analysis targeted the entire setup - selectors and coaching staff were also criticized, fuelled by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was mentor Gautam Gambhir.
During his post-series press
