The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to the Proteas in the just finished red-ball series has plunged the side into crisis.
In the final match, the visiting team inflicted upon India a record loss in Test cricket, contrary to predictions. This represented South Africa's maiden series victory in India in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just 12 months after a 12-year unbeaten run.
The positive trajectory established in the past six months has almost disappeared and the futures of multiple squad members - along with team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Early Optimism Fades Quickly
The young team's impressive performance in the UK this summer, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover post the almost concurrent exits of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over the Windies at the start of the home campaign strengthened that view, before the Proteas came and inflicted a fell blow.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill was injured quickly in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. But that does not excuse or justify the side of the highly disappointing performance in each match against the opposition.
A number of star cricketers took a hit, and a few members aspiring to long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.
Concerning History
This was the second whitewash in home conditions endured by the Indian team in just over a year. In 2024, unfancied New Zealand had secured a staggering 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a berth in the Test championship finale.
The fresh failure to South Africa risks harming India's chances of reaching the showpiece of this cycle as well.
After being third in the WTC rankings prior to the contest, India have fallen to number five. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, a majority are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even when facing the strong Australian side. Yet the failures against the Kiwis and South Africa leave little scope for such comfort.
Causes of the Fall
India's weakness in Test cricket has been significantly highlighted. However, the reason India have performed so poorly in Test matches on home soil in recent times is still bewildering.
Since the turn of the century, India were considered impregnable in Test cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on tracks that favored spin bowling and suited their batsmen and bowlers, India brooked no opposition. The occasional loss, such as in 2012-13 against England, was viewed as an exception.
Today, the team look to be easy pickings in their own backyard.
Versus New Zealand in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were beaten at their own game. The pitches they prepared to suit their strengths failed miserably, as rivals exploited them better, beating the home team's players when it was most crucial.
What Happened?
Certain analysts propose that India is floundering at home because home surfaces have been altered from spinning tracks to pace-friendly pitches to prepare players to succeed in foreign conditions.
A few mention that the IPL, in which numerous foreign cricketers take part, has reduced the unfamiliarity and challenge Indian conditions would challenge them with before.
While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a dramatic drop.
Multiple Failings
Most former players point to a complicated issue, not limited to a couple of reasons.
Experts and participants have identified several failings post India's embarrassing defeat to the Proteas: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, poor choices, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the starting eleven, and emphasizing white-ball over Test cricket.
This was evident in the displays of the side.
Players like Rishabh Pant and Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their lack of application, while Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - came up short in skill and mindset, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - lived up to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to claim wins.
Management Questions
The post-mortem didn't spare just the players - team selectors and support staff were also under fire, fuelled by disappointed supporters and outspoken ex-cricketers. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gautam Gambhir.
At his post-series press
